Collapsible ladder.



A. J. couemny. COLLAPSIBLE LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I0, [SH- Patented Feb. 27,1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. J. CGUGHTRY.

COLLAPSIBLE LADDER.

7 APPLICATION LED AUG-10. ISH. 1,217,279. Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COLLAPSIBLE LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

Application filed August 10, 1914. Serial No. 856,021.

'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ARTHUR J. Couor-rrar, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain New and useful Collapsible Ladder, of which {he following is a specification.

his invention has for its object the production of a collapsible ladder particularly applicable for use on board ships; and it consists in the combinations and construc- -lions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is i, ad to the accompanying drawings, in which rke characters designate corresponding arts in all the views.

Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of a preferqble embodiment of this ladder showing the same as fully extended and as partially extended.

Fig.'- 3 is an elevation showing the ladder is collapsed.

FigI/l is a front elevation of the upper portion of the ladder when partially extended.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the ladder.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the steps.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of two units of another form of this ladder.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of parts seen in Pig. 7

his ladder comprises, generally, longitulinally telescoping units, and means for -iiolding the units collapsed, and for holding Some of the units but artly extended or partly collapsed when t e next unit is colmsped therein so that the distance between all steps in effective position is uniform. More specifically, it includes side rails, each Composed of telescopinglsections paired with the sections of the at or rail, and a step Supported by each pair of sections except the top section. The top unit-may or may not Support a step, but is provided with means s hooks which engage a support for the lader. Hence, the ladder is usually suspended 9mm its top and rests on the dec at its base,

1 designates the sections which are inflexiqble and preferably. tubular in form w1th the Possible exception of the top sectlon 2 which may be solid if desired, as there is no section to telescope within the same. The sections 1 of each rail are paired w1th those of the other rail and support at their upper Cnds the steps 3,

The teps are formed w th hubs *kwhich receive the upper ends of the rail sections of the corresponding units, and the steps oxtend laterally beyond the rails and provide lugs 5 which are formed with open-ended slots 5 for a purpose to be presently described. Each section is also formed with a lengthwise slot 6 in which projects shoulder ,7 provided on the next higher secthm. The shoulders 7 prevent the sections from belng pulled apart or separated, by engaging the upper ends of the slots 6.

The to sections 2 are, for obvious reasons, not provided with the slots 6, but are provlded with the shoulders 7, and the base unit 15 not provided with the shoulders. The top unit is provided with S\.lltl.l)l( 'l1( ()l(&; 8 For engagln any suitable part for supporting the lad er, as the coaming around the hatches, and the base sections are provided with feet 9 including rubber rings which engage the deck and prevent the base of the ladder from slipping, the rubber rings being held in collars 10 on the lower or base sec tions of the ladder rails. In the use of the ladder, the feet prevent the ladder from swinging into a vertical line when the books 8 are engaged with the coaming, and hold the ladder alwa s at the same inclination whether it is fu ly extended or partly collapsed so that the tread surfaces of the steps are always horizontal.

The. means for holding the units in collapsed position and for spacing the effective steps equidistant apart when one or more sections are collapsed, comprises members, as latches 11 common to all the units and pivoted at 12 to collars 13 which are preferably provided on the upper ends of the sections of the unit next below the unit formed with the hooks 8, saidmembers 11 being usually bars movable laterally on their pivots 12 into and out of the slots 5 on the steps and having a series of shoulders 14 for hooking under the lugs 5 when said members are in the slots 5, as seen in Fig. 3, the members 11 also having additional shoulders 15 at their ends for hookin under the first step below the unit to whlch the latches are secured when the ladder is extended to its full extent, Fig.

1, or "into the step of the second unit from that to which the latches are pivoted when the intermediate unit is collapsed into the unit supporting the third step from the top, as shown in F1 2. By reason of the members 11, the ste s in effective position are spaced uniform y apart, as for instance, when the section carrying the topmost step is collapsed into the section carrying the second step from the top, the latter section is partly collapsed and the shoulder 15 engaged with the third step from the top while the uppermost shoulder oi. the series 14 is engaged with the second step "from the top, as clearly seen in Fig. 1 Hence, the topmost step and the third step from the top are spaced the same distance apart as the underlying steps. The sl'ioulder 7 on the top section 2 prevents the top section and next lower from separating, and the uppermost shoulder 14 looks the second section to the first from the top so that they act as a unit. Hence, when the parts are in their position shown in Fig.- 2,

one section is practically eliminated.

Instead of being formed tubular, the telescoping sections, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, may be otherwise formed to collapse or overlap each other, and they may be formed of channel irons 17 which are formed with lengthwise slots 18 and shoulders 19 corresponding to the slots 6 and shoulders 7 of the tubular construction. The steps in the construction shown. in Figs. 7 and 8 are formed from strips of .flat metal bent inverted U shape in general form, the legs of the U formation engaging the backs of the channel irons, which face outwardly and the intermediate portions thereof forming the steps proper.

This ladder is particularly advantageousin .that it can be collapsed into a small space for stowing and when extended to different heights the treads of the steps thereof'will be a uniform distance apart, and

always in a horizontal plane as the ladder will always have the same incline to whatever height it is extended.

W hat I claim is 1. A collapsible ladder comprising lon itudinal telescoping units, and means for supporting an intermediate unit from collapsing w en occupying a position between its fully collapsed and extreme extended positions whereby the distance between the ladder steps in effective position is uniform, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A collapsible ladder comprising lon itudinally telescoping units, and means or supporting an intermediate unit from collapsing when occupying a position between its fully collapsed and extreme extended positions whereby the distance between the ladder steps in effective position is uniform,

said means being secured to one unit of the ladder, and movable into interlocking engagement with the partly collapsed lower unit, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A collapsible ladder comprising side rails each composed of telescoping sections paired with the sections of the other rail, steps supported by the rails, spacing means secured to one pair of sections and movable into interlocking engagement with another pair spaced apart from the former pair when the ladder is extended. substantially as and for the purpose described.

el. A collapsible ladder comprising longitudinal telescoping units, and a meu'iher common to all the units secured to one unit and having means for i 'iterlocking with other units when the ladder is collapsed and holding the ladder in collapsed position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A collapsible ladder comprising longi-- tudinal telescoping units, and a spacing member secured to one unit and having means for interlocking with the second lower unit when the unit to which said member is secured is collapsed. and the first lower unit is partly collapsed into said second lower unit. substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

(3. A collapsible ladder comprising longitudinal telescoping units, and a spacing member secured to one unitand having means for interlocking with the second lower unit and the first lower unit when the unit to which said member is secured is collapsed,

- other units when the ladder is collapsed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. A collapsible ladder comprising side rails, each composed of telescoping sections paired with the sections of the other rail, and members pivoted to opposite sides of one section and movable on their pivots into interlocking engagement with a plurality of the other sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A collapsible ladder comprising side rails each composed of telescoping sections paired with the sections of the other rail, each section having a lengthwise slot and a shoulder for entering the slot of the next lower section, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. A collapsible ladder comprising side rails each composed of telescoping sections paired with the sections of the other rail, and having lugs projecting laterally beyond the rails.,and formed with open-ended slots, and a latch pivoted to one section and mow able on its pivot into the slots of the lugs and having shoulders for engaging undersides of the lugs when said member is in the slots, substantially specified.

as and for the purpose 1 [1. A collapsible ladder comprising longilinally telescoping units having means for reventing the same from pulling apart or eparating entirely or beyond a distance for correct spacing of steps when extended, and spacing mei'nber secured to one unit and ring means for interlocking with the sec- Md lower unit and the first lower unit when the unit to which said member is secured is collapsed into the first lower unit below the no, and said first lower unit is partly col lupsed into the second lower unit, substan- M11) as and for the purpose set forth.

1-2. A collapsible ladder comprising side rails, each composed of telescoping sections paired with the sections of the other rail, each section having a lengthwise slot and fiflshouhler for entering the slot of the next iower section and engaging the upper end will thereof to prevent separating of the Sections, and a spacing member secured to HM: unit and having means for interlocking with the second lower unit and also with the first lower unit when the unit to which id member is secured is collapsed into the lost lower unit and said first lower unit is partly collapsed into the second lower unit, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. A collapsible ladder comprising side if rails each composed of telescoping sections paired with the sections of the other rail, each section having a lengthwise slotand a shoulder for entering the slot of the next lower section and engaging the upper end wall thereof to prevent separating oi the sections, the sections having laterally e. tei'iding lugs provided with openended slots and a latch pivoted to one section and movable on its pivot into the slots and having shoulders for engaging the undersides of said lugs when said latch is in the slots, substautially as and for the purpose specified.

In teslimon whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oi. two attesting witnesses, at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings in the State of New York, this 24th day of July, 191

ARTHUR J. COUG-l-ITRY. \Vitncsses GEO. E. Love, G120. SCHLAZENIIAUF.

pics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

